# What you need

Getting started isn't terribly confusing. If you're new to Java and frameworks in general, pay close attention. If you're not, this will be a cake walk.

## An IDE

Even though you can write Java and Pronghorn apps in any editor of your choice, we recommend the following IDEs:

* [IntelliJ](https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/).
* [Eclipse](https://www.eclipse.org/).
* [Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/languages/java).

## Java

Minimum requirement for the JDK is Java 7. Get it [here](http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk7-downloads-1880260.html). Pronghorn has module compatibility up to Java 9.

## Maven

If you have developed applications using Java before, [Maven](https://maven.apache.org/) will be familiar. Pronghorn uses Maven as well as Maven central for releases and snapshots. Dependencies inside Pronghorn and its related projects are all managed using Maven.

To install Maven on your machine, please follow [this](https://maven.apache.org/install.html) guide on the Maven page.


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